Menorrhagia

What is Menorrhagia :- (Profuse, Protracted, Prolonged Menses or Periods)

Excessive discharge of blood during the monthly periods / menses is known as menorrhagia. It is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular intervals. It constitutes a significant problem in pre-menopausal women – resulting in adverse health, reduced quality of life and much disruption in the lives of those afflicted.

Clinically, it is defined as total blood loss exceeding 80 ml per cycle or menses lasting longer than 7 days, saturates tampons or napkins within an hour or includes large clots of blood.

The World Health Organization reports that 18 million women aged 30-55 years perceive their menstrual bleeding to be exorbitant. Around 1 in 20 women aged 30-49 will seek advice from their gynecologist to help resolve them.

Homoeopathic Treatment

Treatment in conventional medicine:-

The conventional system of medicine uses drugs to give temporary relief from associated symptoms like pain and cramps in the abdomen. These drugs include:

Prostaglandin inhibitors: These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to help reduce cramping and blood flow. NSAIDs have severe side effects that increase with dosage and strength. These include ringing in the ears, gastric ulcers, cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal bleeding and liver, kidney damage.

Analgesics: Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Side effects due to prolonged use of these strong analgesics include liver damage. Aspirin should be avoided, as it may promote bleeding.

Danazol, a male hormone is given to stop bleeding temporarily but can cause hot flushes, acne, weight gain and increased hair as side effects.

Depending on the severity of bleeding the treatment includes:

For acute control of severe bleeding: Estrogen, conjugated (Premarin) 25 mg IV every 4 hours up to 6 doses until bleeding abates

For less severe bleeding or after control of acute bleeding: Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) 10-30 mg daily for 5-10 days. Any combination oral contraceptive, (usually one of the “high dose” oral contraceptives) one tablet 4 times a day for 5-7 days

In cases where menorrhagia is severe, surgical options may be required. These procedures include a hysterectomy, endometrial ablation (intense ultrasound waves kill endometrial lining) or dilation and curettage (cervix is dilated and tissue is scraped from the lining of the uterus).

Menorrhagia and homoeopathy treatment:-

Conventional treatmet in with its life-saving drugs, antibiotics and surgery, is the only answer to a range of critical illnesses and dreaded diseases. But despite extensive advancement and research in the field, is unable to provide cure for a number of ailments like menorrhagia or prolonged and copious menses or periods.

In this respect, homoeopathy has shown effective and proven results. The medicines help to maintain emotional, mental, physiological and immune responses of the individual to ensure long lasting and permanent relief.

Some women have very little trouble with their menstrual cycles, but others face a monthly ordeal. An array of stressful symptoms – irritability, mood swings, headaches, bloating, water retention, soreness of the breasts – may occur with premenstrual syndrome. Periods can be irregular and troubled, with cramping, abnormally heavy flow, and various discomforts. It constitutes a significant problem in pre-menopausal women, resulting in adverse health, reduced quality of life and much disruption in the lives of those afflicted.

Homoeopathy has the answer for all these discomforts you go through. How homoeopathy remedies help in menorrhagia. The functional hormonal balance is restored without hormonal drugs and their side effects. The hormonal balance is restored by the action of treatment on uterus, ovaries, thyrioid other glands and whole of body. The nervous system, blood vessels and muscles are toned and the mind is also calmed down.

Emotional upset or stressful conditions are among the most common causes of menorrhagia which can be very well supported by the treatment.

Research shows that the various uterine and ovarian diseases like fibroids, cysts, polyps and so on can be easily taken care by homoeopathic treatment.

The hemoglobin level is maintained and the allied symptoms like weakness, irritation, loss of appetite, pain in lower abdomen below navel, malaise or mild pain in whole body, feverish feeling are well taken care of with the homoeopathic medicines.

The treatment helps a women to stay healthy before and during the menstrual cycle as well as during the perimenopause and menopause – without unwanted side effects.

There are 353 homoeopathy medicines which give great relief in menorrhagia (profuse, protracted, prolonged menses or periods). However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the physician. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient. Thus remedies of menorrhagia (protracted, prolonged, profuse, copious periods or menstruation) are designer made unlike allopathy in which all patients receive the same surgery or drugs although trade name may be different.

Cause:-

Menorrhagia can be caused by a variety of causes. These include:

Hypothyroidism

Endometrial proliferation / excess / hyperplasia:

Anovulation, oligo-ovulation

Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD or PCOS)

Ovarian tumor

Obesity

Hormone (estrogen) therapy

Endometrial atrophy:

Post menopause

Prolonged progestin or oral contraceptive administration

Local factors:

Endometrial polyps

Endometrial neoplasia

Adenomyosis / endometriosis

Uterine myomata (fibroids)

Intrauterine device (IUD)

Uterine sarcoma

Coagulation disorders:

Thrombocytopenia, platelet disorders

von Willebrand disease

Leukemia

Ingestion of aspirin or anticoagulants

Renal failure / dialysis

Stress

How to Diagnose:-

The diagnosis of menorrhagia is based on your symptoms, a review of your medical history and a physical examination including a pelvic exam. Your doctor will enquire about your menstrual cycle and you may be asked to keep a record of your blood flow, particularly how heavy it was. Tests if required may include:

Endometrial biopsy: Removal of a sample of endometrial tissue to look for changes in the lining of the uterus

Dilation and curettage (D&C): Scraping of the inner lining of the uterus

Hysteroscopy: Examination of the cervix and fallopian tubes using a telescope-like viewing device

Signs and Symptoms:-

Excessive menstrual flow (varies greatly from woman to woman). Menstrual flow that soaks through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours. The need to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow. The need to change sanitary protection during the night.